banta



(No Model.)`

H. L. su o.' W. BANTA.

l GAB, GOUPLING. v v.-1\Ijo. 392,303. Patented Nov. 6, 1888'.

BYLWVQ ATTORNEYS.

'UNITED STATES` PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY L. BANTA AND CHARLES W. BANTA, OF CAON OI'IY, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,303. dated November 6, 1888- Applcat-ion tiled May 24, i888. Serial No. 275,977. (No model.)

.To all whom. it may concern."`

Be it known that we, HENRY L. BANTA and CHARLES W. BANTA, of. Caen City, in the countyT of Fremont and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact specification of the same.

This invention has in view to provide an improved car-coupling which is simple and readily operated Without requiring the operator to pass `in between the ears,whieh would expose him to the danger of being crushed thereby, and which is adapted to guide the coupling-link into the approaching draw-head, while the retention oi' the pin-adjusting mechanism or rack, either when 1the pin is in a lowered or coupled position or in an elevated or nncoupled position, is effected automatically; and to these ends the nature of the invention consists of the peculiar construction and ar rangement of the coupling-pin-adj usting mechanism and of the link-adjusting contrivance, all substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of our improved car-coupling with the coupling-pin in its elevated or uneoupled position. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof with the coupling-pin in its lowered or coupled position; and Fig. 3 is a plan View thereof. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the conpling-pin-carrying arm of the adjusting-rack. Fig. 5 is a similar View of the link-adjuster applied to the under side of the draw-head.

In the embodiment of our invention we eniploy an upright rack, A,which slides in keepers or brackets a a, applied to the end of the car at suitable points thereon. The lower end of the rack is provided with a horizontal arm, a', having its forward end tapered, as at ai, at the inner end of which taper is a shoulder, a, to permit of the suspension therefrom and the retention in a vertical position of the couplingpin B. Applied to the arm a of the rack A is a spring or clasp, b, the forward or outer end of which is eonveXed or bowed d0wnward,with its convexity resting upon the upper surface -of the tapered forward end of the arm a', the

extreme forward ends of the arm and spring or clasp standing apart to permit of the ready insertion between them in passing or slipping the coupling-pin to its place upon said arm. With the rack A gears a pinion, C, upon a horizon-al shaft, c, suitably journaled at the end of the car, and provided with cranks or handles c c-one at each end-for its operation.

D is a spring-pawl secured at its outer or one end to the end of the car and having its opposite end adapted to enter or engage with a notch or recess, d, in the outer or front side of the rack A,when the latter is adjusted, so as'to hold the coupling-pin in its elevated or uncoupled position. The spring-pawl D,when the rack A is moved downward, glides out of the notch or recess d of the rack, and bearing against the latter, after leaving said recess or notch,will spring over and bear upon the upper end of said rack, thus effecting the holding of the coupling-pin in its lowered or coupled position.

The upper end of the rack A is beveled or inclined from the front side of the rack, as at e, to Ypermit of the ready passage of the free end of the pawl D thereon and therefrom, according to the direction of movement imparted to the rack.

E is the link-adjuster or contrivance which is applied to the under side of the draw-head j', near one side thereof; and it consists of a spring-metal plate having its forward or free end convexed or bowed upward beyond the outer end of the draw-head f,with its convexity standing about in the same plane with the bottom surface of the draw-head chamber, to effect the ready guidance thereinto of the link of the meeting draw-head. As the meeting draw-head comes in contact with the projecting convexed portion of the link-adjuster or contrivance E,thc latter will yield downwardly and pass under said meeting draw-head, and thus permit of the draw-heads having the required contiguity of approach, and the said projecting portion being taken out of the way, preventing the breaking of the same.

This car-coupling is simple, and permits of operation without the operator or train-man going in between the cars to effect the coupling ofthe cars or the uncoupling thereof; be-

IOO

sides, the retention ofthe coupling-pin-adjusting1neehanis1n,either in a lowered or elevated position, is effected automatically to prevent the accidental displacement of the couplingpin either in its coupled or uncoupled position.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. IThe car-coupling having the sliding rack provided with an arin connecting with the coupling-pin, and means for operating said rack, substantially as set forth.

2. The car-coupling having the sliding rack connected with the eoupling-pin,and having a beveled or inclined upper end and a notch a short distance below said end, in combination with a springpawl engaging automatically with said beveled upper end and notch of the sliding rack, substantially as set forth.

3. rlhe car coupling having the sliding rack provided with an arin having a tapered and shouldered forward end, a spring or clasp applied to said arni and having its downwardlybowed or convexed end resting upon the tapered end of the rack-arm to effect the suspension therefrom of the coupling-pin, and means for operating said rack7 substantially set forth. v

4. The car-coupling having the sliding rack provided with a beveled or inclined upper end and a notch or recess upon its front side a short distance below said end, and with a horizontal arm at its lower end having a tapered and shouldered forward end, said arm having a spring or clasp applied to its upper side, which clasp or spring is convexed or bowed at its outer end, with its convexity resting upon the tapered end of the arm, in combination with the pinion secured upon a handled or cranked shaft and gearing with said rack, and the spring-pawl engaging with the notch and the beveled or inclined upper end of the rack, substantially as set forth.

5. The car-coupling having the lin kadjuster applied to the under side of the drawhead7 and consisting ot'a spring-metal plate having a convexed or bowed forward end standing beyond the outer end of the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

HENRY L. BANTA. CHARLES XV. BANTA.

Vitncsscs:

SAM. P. DALE, J. E. Heimann. 

